Richard Kinzel IAAPA Interview

[Avatar]

I came across an IAAPA article that interviewed Dick Kinzel and it really goes into depth about where he has came from and about where he would like to go. The article was written in April of 2005. A couple points in the article that I found interesting about Dick Kinzel is;

1. He plans to retire in January of 2008.

2. Disney turned him away from hiring Dick in 1971, because he wanted $15,000.00 salary and Disney thought that was to much.
3. Kinzel said; “Take the lipstick off any park and underneath, it’s still a carnival. Disney changed the appearance of parks in the 1950s with Disney-land, but we are all still operating dressed-up carnivals.â€Â

[CoastersNSich]

Very good find. I had the chance to meet Dick Kinzel last year, after a CoasterBuzz podcast at Cedar Point. The article refreshes a lot of what he said at that podcast, and why I love Cedar Point so much.

The fact that he didn't finish college shouldn't be too surprising in the industry. While it helps to get in with a business or marketing degree, so many have simply risen through the ranks and thanks to good hard work. Also, while Kinzel had planned to retire in 1/2008, I heard that he may postpone that until the (former) Paramount Parks settle into the chain, operationally and financially.

The other stand-out thing about Kinzel is that his, and Cedar Fair's office, is located inside Cedar Point, and his home is next door. Some other park companies, like Six Flags and Paramount (until late June 2006), have remote corporate offices that could be close to one of their parks, but not necessarily within. But with Cedar Fair, everyone works in and visits the parks, often outside the office and on the midways, especially Kinzel. I also heard him say that he likes to treat a park's final day of the season like the first day - which in my opinion seemed different from PKI in the past (give-aways). This means that parks need to work hard every day to satisfy guests - Kinzel seems to get it.

Also asked at that podcast (again, this was October 2005) was the a question about future park acquisitions. Dick responded that CF took a look at Six Flags, but passed due to the enormity. Instead, Cedar Fair grew gradually through individual acquisitions (Dorney, WOF, Knott's, MiAdv, and GL) He also mentioned that there were some parks that he wishes he had acquired, such as Funtime (Geauga Lake, Darien Lake, Wyandot Lake), which Premier actually bought, before buying SF. Ironically, CF would get Geauga Lake around 10 years later. Knowing of Viacom wanting to sell off Paramount Parks then, I'm sure he hinted interest in PP - and I felt that the possibility of such an acquistion happening being good due to Cedar Fair's strength and growth.

[Dane]

You look so thrilled, or drunk.

[CoastersNSich]

You look so thrilled, or drunk.

Let's not go there. I happen to have met Kinzel and feel excited about him being our park's big boss, and that's what you have to say?!

[RailRider]

I have had the pleassure of meeting Mr. Kinzel on quite a few occasions also. Completely agree that his view of opperating a park is completely different than that of SixFlags or even Disney.

Expect to see him walking around KI a few times next year, just the hands on approach he takes.

Also greatest park experience ever was having a personal guided tour of the MF construction site by Don Mears (Former head of Cedar Point) and Mr. Kinzel on a cold February day. I have never seen 2 people more excited about an addition to a park and how much it would mean to the guests the next seasson. Very surreal experience.